Israel’s Major Military Achievements Since October 7, 2023 Attack

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 20, 2026

Since the October 7, 2023 attack, Israel has conducted extensive military operations resulting in the deaths of senior Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian leaders, the crippling of Syrian military capabilities, and the recovery of all known hostages from Gaza. These actions aim to dismantle terrorist organizations, prevent future attacks, and reshape regional security dynamics through coordinated efforts with the U.S. and allies.

Since the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, Israel has made significant military strides against Hamas and its regional allies, achieving key objectives in its ongoing conflict. These efforts have included the elimination of numerous high-profile militant leaders, the destruction of strategic enemy capabilities, and the recovery of kidnapped hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underscored the nation’s war aims during a July 2024 meeting with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, presenting him with a baseball cap inscribed with “Total Victory.” The phrase reflected Israel’s commitment to securing the safe return of all kidnapped hostages, dismantling Hamas as a terrorist organization in Gaza, and preventing any future surprise attacks akin to those launched on October 7, 2023.

According to detailed accounts, Israel has inflicted substantial damage across multiple fronts in the years following the initial attack. In December 2024, shortly after the fall of the Iran-backed Syrian regime led by Bashar Assad, Israel executed extensive strikes against Syrian military infrastructure. Over the course of two days, Israeli forces conducted approximately 480 airstrikes targeting chemical weapons facilities, air-defense systems, combat aircraft, helicopters, drones, naval assets, weapons stockpiles, and armored vehicles. These actions reportedly eliminated around 70 percent of Syria’s strategic military capabilities, with a Syrian rebel commander remarking that rebuilding the Syrian army could take decades.

In Gaza, Israel has successfully targeted senior leadership within Hamas. These operations resulted in the deaths of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, his successor Mohammed Sinwar, the military chief Mohammed Deif, and the political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh—who was reportedly killed while in a Tehran guesthouse affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

In Lebanon, Israeli forces have similarly targeted Hezbollah leadership, including the deaths of military chief Fuad Shukr and overall leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, reportedly alongside approximately twenty Hezbollah military commanders. Israeli military sources cited in the war account claim the deaths of around 3,851 Hezbollah fighters and injuries to roughly 9,000 others, alongside the elimination of more than 22,000 Hamas fighters.

On the Iranian front, joint Israeli and U.S. efforts have reportedly dealt significant blows to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and military leadership. These operations included the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, top IRGC commanders such as Hossein Salami and Mohammad Bagheri, IRGC Air Force commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and IRGC intelligence chiefs Mohammad Kazemi and his deputy.

Additionally, Israeli forces have succeeded in recovering 168 live hostages and 87 bodies from Gaza, accounting for all individuals known to have been abducted in the initial assault.

These reported accomplishments reflect a concerted and multifaceted campaign by Israel and its allies aimed at neutralizing perceived threats across the region and securing national security objectives following the 2023 attack.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.